Toy



' April e', 192e. 1,579,822

A. K. KNICKERBOCKER 'Original Filed March 25. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 "Wimesses. Bzvezztor.

@i j l f Y Alf. 'kerboclfelt MMMMML K if? W 5 'A .MLM

April 6 192e. 1,519,822

A. K. KNICKERBOCKER TGY Original Filed Harsh 25, 1923 5 Shegtbshnt 2 Witnesses. Invezz tor.

April 6,1926. 1,519,822

A. K. KNICKERBOCKER Witnesses l Inventor.

' A Ji. Knickerbocker MMM ,Msm-M 0.53m IJJMMWLJW Patented Apr. 6, '1926.

PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR X. KNICKEBBOCKER, -OIF CROSBY, MINNESOTA.

TOY.

Application led Hatch 23, 1923, Serial No. 627,148. Renewed January 9, 1926.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ARTHUR K. KNIGKER- Booman, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Crosby, in the county of Crow Wing and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Toys, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in toys, and more particularly refers to that classof toy which is designed to stimulate the imagination of a child along the lines of building and constructive work.

Heretofore, the only building blocks used for toys were the ordinary' building blocks, and while these give the child a certain amount of pleasure and amusement, it

teaches him nothing in the way ofthe mixing and making of concrete structures.

One of the objects of my invention, therefore, is to provide for the instruction of childre more especially those between the years of eight and seventeen, in the art or practice of the manipulation of concrete material for building purposes and to advance the inventive instinct of the child so that it may vary the structures itbuilds in length, breadth and shape.

Another object of my invention is to provide simple and suitable forms for the con- .struction of miniature concrete structural work so designed that while securing a great variety of structures, such as houses, barns, walls, bridges, etc., will require the child, after lhaving used the plates, etc. to form the frame, to mix the concrete and to pour it into the forms as it is done in real life in the building of concrete structures.

One of the features of the invention is the make-up of the wall plates, which consists of a flat baror plate of metal, the upper and lower side edges of which are bent at right angles to its body and each provided with a series of equi-distantly located apertures for the'. reception of the` bracing bars. This make-up or design of the walt plate is seen throughout practically the entire series of plates or bars constituting the toy, although as in the roof members, some forms lof the plates are varied'to a considerable extent, 50 i the same design or pattern exists also in them.

0 A further object of my invention is to provide forms adapted lto be removably attached, during the course of construction, to a base, but which after the pouring and setting of the concrete, can be readily detached and used again for the formation of another structure.

A still further object of my invention is to so construct my toy that it will have the advantages of' great durability and yet marked simplicity as a whole and in respect of each of its component parts, so that its manufacture is economically facilitated both as regards production of the parts and their assembly. y

With these and other objects in view which may be incident to my improvements, the invention consists in the parts and 'com- 70 binations to be hereinafter set forth and claimed, with the understanding that the` several necessary elements comprising my invention may be varied in construction, proportions and arrangement, without de-75 parting from the spirit and kscope of the appended claims. v

In order to make my invention more clearly understood, I have shown in the accompanying drawings means for carrying the same into practical eiiect without limiting the improvements in their useful applications to the particular constructions,which for the purpose of explanation have been made the subject of illustration.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the assembled forms for the walls of a miniature structure, such as a barn, or house with the roof oi, and with one corner broken away 90 so that the interior construction may be clearly seen; y

Figure 2 is a perspective view of unit forms for a small opening or window;

Figure 3 is a horizontal cross section there- 95 of through the finished window, showing the side grooves for the window llights and the latter in place;

Figure 4 shows a cross section through the eaves of a roof;

Figure 5 is a cross section through the peak of a roof; y

Figure 6 is a perspective view showing forms for the construction of a large opening, such as a window or door; and

Figures 7 and 7a are perspective' views showing the forms used in the `construction of a pitch roof. v

A reference letter applied to designate a given part is used to designate such part wherever the saine appears throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to Figure .1,v the frame of the structure or building is designed to be of the shape of a hollow square or rectan le comprising foundation, plates 1 provi ed with apertures 2, upon which plates the walls of the building are to be reared. The walls are designed to be hollow, comprising an outer frame and an inner frame each consisting of a series of metallic wall plates or side forms of a standard size, the body 3 thereof having its loweredge 4 and its upper ed e` 5 each bent at a right angle to the 'bo y, said edges beingprovided with a series of 'apertures 6. The foundation plates are 'of the same length and of the Same width, including their edges, as the wall plates, and the apertures in the foundation plates and in the edges of the wall plates correspond .one with the other. The height of the wall is determined by the number of the wall lates, the several plates being held together by round metallic bracing rods 7 which extend through the apertures in the edges of the respective plates.. The inner wall construction is simply a duplication of the outer wall, except for the corner forms to be hereinafter described. i

The adjacent ends of the wall plates are 4held together by small auxiliary plates 8 which are apertured and through which the bracing rods 7 extend, lthus uniting the adjacent wall plates iirmly together.

In addition to the above, Iprovide corner forms 9 and 10, the former. being for the outside of the building, and the latter of the same configuration but somewhat smaller for the inside corner structure. These are held to the side frames by the bracing rods 7 in the same manner as the side frames are held together. v

Inv order to give the walls more stability during the process of constructing the building, tie rods 11 having bent ends 12 are used between the inner walls, the lends raised and the bo :terasse raised and )rovided with apertures through which the racino bars pam. The object in having the bod portion of the bar 13 illy portion of the bar 14 depressed is to enable the two bars to be readily placed at right angles one across the other without interference.

Referring to Figure 2, showing the structure designed for a small window, the saine Vconsists of frame-like forms 17 and 18 which have the saine standai'd height and length as the side forms save for the cut-away portion, the two forms together making one opening of the size shown for the reception of the window form 19. Flat iinisliing plates 20 are positioned at. the top and bottom of the window to close the completed form, which extends over into similar adjacent forms. As seen in Figure 3, the foi-in 19 has pressed therein on each side, two grooves 21 or' the purpose of receiving lights 22 for the windows; these lights may be made of either oiled paper or mica and are setwithin tli'e grooves therein. lVhen it is desired to make a larger window than that shown in Figure 2, orto make a door opening, one or more intermediate units, such as the units 23 shown in Figure 6, are used instead, and Should itbe desired to increase the width of the opening, t-lie saine may be done by inserting at the top and bottom between the foi-ins numbered 17 and 18 in Figure 2, a form equal to the standard wall plates shown in Figure 1.

Figures 4 and 5 show sections through a roof at the eaves, and at the ridge respeclas inner eave unit 25 and outer eave units 26 and 27 shown in Figure 4, and inner ridge units 28 and outer ridge units A29 shown in Figure 5; Vthe two upper ridge. units of the roof are properly spaced and secured together at the ridge by a staple or bent bar 31).

These roof units are of a somewhat irregular conguration as compared with those heretofore shown and described, but they are provided each with upper and lower apertured edges through which the usual v bracing rods are inserted to hold the forms in proper position.

In constructing forms for a gable, another special unit is provided such as 32 in Figure 7, the lower eave corner being vshown broken away so as to show the interior. The roof forms are of unit construction and similar in general to the forms shown iii Figure 1, and are attached and held` together in like manner, that is to say by the bracing rods. To give additional stability to the gable for1n,it is provided with a wing set 33, which is secured to the gable by bolts 34 parsing through apertures in the respective adjacent'roof members.

It is the intention of the inventor that the manufacturer shall furnish with each set of building forms, unit sacks of cement and sandand instructions for mixing these in proper proportions. After the forms for a wall, building or other structure are assembled by the child, he will mix up the concrete batch and pour it in the openings left between the inside and outside forms. When the concrete has set t-he forms may be easily removed by pullin out the bracing rods by which they are ield together. In making a barn, house, or other structure where a roof is required, the wall plates are left in place until the whole structure is l completed. The walls of the structure are poured first, and as seen in Figure 4, a groove 31 ma be made lengthwise of the finished wall y means of a simple rod or tool to be furnished as a part of the toy outfit. When the concrete in the side walls becomes hardened, the reinforcing cross bars are removed. The roof forms may be then placed in position and the roof formed by pouring the concrete batch through the ridge opening, the groove 3l making an effective bond between walls and roof. If

fine mesh wire laid in lace after the inside 4roof forms are assem led and before the outside forins are positioned. l The use of such reinforcing means would give the child additional instruction and experience in reinforced concrete practice. j

When the concrete in the finished structure has set, the forms are removed in case of the roof structure, the inside forms are removed by simply turning the building upside down, when all the bracing rods Vand forms may easily bedetached. While inI the accompanying drawings but cnet pe of toy 'structure has been shown,- name y, a house or barn having a able roof, the same rinciples and types of orxns may be applie to the construction of any other common structures, such as oiice buildings, `farmk y buildings, churches, silos, bridges, forts', etc., etc., it being intended to apply the use of forms of the type described, and the principles outlined, to. the construction of all manner of structures.

In putting the toys upon the market, they will be manufactured and furnished in graduated sets, that is to say, in sets designed for the 'construction of the simplest structures for the small child, up to sets designed for more complicated designs as the child becomes a youth.

' Each set will be shipped in a box or container together with a book 'of instructions and a few simple tools to aid the child in his work.

I claim: 1. In a toy of the character described, a

wall plate for building purposes consisting of a metallic plate, the upper and lower hori zontal edgesv of which are bent at right angles to the body thereof and provided with spaced apertures, forms for openings, adaptp ed to be used with the wall plates, whose upper and lower edges are provided with apertures, and bracing rods which extend through the wall plate and the form for openings and hold the two securely to'- gether.

2. In a toy of the character described, a wall plate for building purposes consisting of a metallic plate, the upper and lower horizontal edges of which are bent at right angles to the body thereof, and providedwith spaced apertures, and forms for openings to be used with the wall plates, whose upper and lower edges are provided with apertures, and finishing plates having apertures to be used above and below said form for openings, and 'bracing -rods which extend through the wall plate, and the form for openings and the auxiliary plates and hold them securely together.

3. In a toy of the character described, a wall plate for building purposes consisting of a metallic plate, the upper `andlower horizontal edgesof which are'bent at right angles to the body thereof and provided with spaced apertures, forms for openings to be used with the wall plates, whose upper and lower edges' are provided with apertures, and finishing plates having apertures to be used with such forms for i'openings, flat foundation plates provided with apertures,v

los

no i

whereby the entire structure is securely held together. l A

4. In a toy of the character' described, flat Y, rectangular plates provided with a seriesv of apertures along each long side, a series of wall plates for building purposes, consisting each of a metallic plate, the upper and lower horizontal edges ofl whichk are bent.

at right angles tothe. body thereof and provided with a series of' apertures which correspond with the apertures inthe foundation plates, and bracing rods which pass through the apertured edges of the wall plates. and t into the apertures in the foundation plates tov hold the foundation` plates and thewall plates securely together.

5. In a. toy of the character described, flat rectangular foundation plates provided with a series of apertures on each long side, a series of wall plates for building purposes, consisting each of metallic plates, the upper and lower horizontal edges of which are bent at right angles to the body thereof and provided with a series of apertures which correspond to t-he apertures in the foundation plates, reinforcingr cross bars with apertured ends which extend across the upper walls of the building, and bracing rods which pass through the apertured ends of said cross bars, the apertured edges of the wall plates and the apertures in the foundation plates and hold the several parts firmly together.

6. ln a toy of the character described, flat rectangular foundation plates provided with a series of spaced apertures along each long side, a series of wall plates for building purposes consisting each of a metallic plate, the upper and lower horizontal edges of which are bent at right angles to the body thereof and provided with a series of spaced apertures which correspond with the apertures in the foundation plates, bracing rods which pass through the apertured edges of the wall plates and into the apertures in the foundation plates, and reinforcing cross bars which extend across the upper walls of the building having apertured ends lying in a different plane from the body of the cross bar, said cross bars being held in position by the same bracing rods which hold together the foundation plates and the wall plates.

7. In va toy of the character described, flat rectangular foundation plates provided with a series of apertures along each long side, a series of wall plates for building purposes adapted to be superimposed one upon the other, each consisting of a metal plate` the upper and lower horizontal edges of which are bent at right angles to the body thereof and provided with a series of apertures which correspond with the apertures in thc foundation plates, bracing rods passed through the apertures in the edges of the wall plates, and into the apertures in the foundation plates, and reinforcing cross bars which extend across the upper walls of the building, having apertured ends, which cross bars are held in place by the same bracing rods which hold together the foundation plates and the wall plates.

S. ln a toy of the character described, the combination with an interior wall and an exterior wall in spaced relation one to the other, said walls composed of a series of vertically disposed rectangular wall plates, the upper and lower horizontal edges of which are apertured, and reinforcing cross bars having apertured ends extending from side to side across the two spaced walls to assist in firmly holding the structure together, of auxiliary apertured plates extending from one wall plate to the adjacentvwall plate in the same plane, of verticall" extending detachable bracing bars passing through said apertured edges of the respective plates and the ends of the reinforcing cross bars, to unite said plates and bars into a firmly built wall structure.

9. In a toy of the character described, a mold for concrete buildings including an inner and outer supporting Wall each spaced one from the other and formed of longitudinal and vertical wall plates comprising a metallic body with upper and lower apertured edges bent at right angles thereto, auxiliary apertured plates which extend beyond the longitudinal edges of the wall plates to the adjacent wall plates, and bracing rods which pass through the apertured edges of the wall plates and the auxiliary plates and detachably secure them one' to the other to form a wall.

10. In a toy of the character described, in al mold for concrete buildings, mold sections each comprising a series of longitudinal and vertical wall plates having a metallic body with upper and lower apertured edges bent at right angles thereto, auxiliary plates extending beyond the longitudinal edges of the wall plates to unite such adjacent plates together, and bracing rods which pass through the upper and lower edges and the auxiliary plates and adjustably secure the building bars together.

11. In a toy of the character described constructed of an inner and outer section between which concrete may be poured, the combination with a wall pla-te for building purposes consisting of a metallic plate. the upper and lower horizontal edges'of which are bent at right angles to the body thereof and provided with equidistantly spaced apertures, forms for openings, adapted to be used with the wall plates, whose upper and lower edges are provided with corresponding apertures, and bracing rods which extend through the wall plates and the forms for openings to hold the twosecurely together to form vertical inner and outer walls, of roofing plates of a. construction like to the wall plates to form inner and outer roofing walls, other detachable bracing rods to hold thesanie in proper position, and intermediate eave plates connect-ing the inner and outer walls of the roofing plates with the vertical building plates.

12. In a toy of the character described constructed of an inner and outer section between which concrete may be poured, the combination with a wall plate for building purposes consisting of a metallic platethe upper and lower horizontal edges of which are bent at right angles to thc body thereof and provided with equidistantly spaced apertures, forms for openings, adapted to be used with the wall plates. whose upper and lower edges are provided with corresponding apertures, bracing rods which extend through the Wall plates and er position, intermediate eave plates conneetthe forms for openings to hold the two seing the inner and outer walls of the roofing curely together to form a. Vertical inner plates with the vertical building plates, and 10 and outer Wall, of roofing plates of a eondetachable gable plates and ridge plates `l5 struction like to the Wall plates to form for the ends and top ofthe roof respectively.

inner and outer rooting Walls, other detaoh- In testimony whereof I ax my signature. able bracing rods to hold the same in prop- ARTHUR K. KNICKERBOCKER. 

